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Salvia Ember's Wish

Salvia Embers Wish

This compact Salvia is a cousin to the very popular 'Wendy's Wish', which has proved a great performer in Sydney gardens (and in many other areas as well). It has large, coral-red flowers held in dusky calyces, similar in shape to those of 'Wendy's Wish', and like that cultivar, it blooms over a long period of time. It is also a compact plant, growing to around 1 m in height. It enjoys a sunny spot in reasonable soil, but can cope with a little shade. It is fairly drought tolerant once established, only needing watering when it is very hot in summer. It can be pruned back lightly in stages every so often or else one-third of the plant can be removed in late winter, giving it some all-purpose plant food at the same time. When it gets woody after a few years, replace it with a fresh plant.

Salvia Embers Wish in autumn

In my garden, I enjoy growing this plant next to a coleus with bold similar-coloured red markings, and a lime-yellow Justicia brandegeeana (shrimp plant). Part of the proceeds of sales of this plant are donated to Make-A-Wish Australia. This organisation grants cherished wishes to seriously ill children and has been operating in Australia since 1985. Salvia 'Ember's Wish' has been named in memory of Emma and Brett Shegog, who lost their lives due to a rare genetic disorder.